Starwood Preferred Guest - Starwood BRG Success, How Do I Reserve?
Land-of-Miles
Nov 5, 09, 10:49 am
After I spotted a great rate for the Parker Meridien NYC on Expedia I successfully claimed under the BRG scheme. I have been told to go ahead and make a reservation and it will be adjusted to the correct price. I wondered just which rate I should reserve at in the first instance? The Expedia rate is a non-flexible rate, but I dont want to reserve a non flexible rate with immediate payment when the rate will be adjusted downwards since this will mean that I pay unnecessary currency conversion fees on my credit card.
Any advice?
mahasamatman
Nov 5, 09, 12:30 pm
You have to reserve the exact rate that was in your BRG approval.
...and you have to book it through the Starwood website, not Expedia. All details should be in the e-mail you received approving your BRG.
Land-of-Miles
Nov 5, 09, 2:18 pm
You have to reserve the exact rate that was in your BRG approval.
There is no rate quoted within the BRG Approval just a general statement to make the reservation online and then submit the reservation number. Hence the query it wasn't at all clear if I could pick any rate or had to find the closest match to the type of rate for the BRG showing on Expedia for the BRG match.
Clearly the room type has to be the same but that is the only thing specified.
Book a best rate garantee rate which is fully refundable. Send your confirmation to BRG dept, they will adjust your room rate to approve rate.
margarita girl
Nov 5, 09, 3:03 pm
Make a reservation on the SPG website.
Then TAKE A SCREENSHOT of the lower rate on the competing website.
Submit your BRG to SPG.
Wait for your BRG approval, print it off, and take it with you to the hotel.
I always take a screenshot because other have reported that the lower rate sometimes "goes away" and the BRG is denied.
kingsubbu
Nov 5, 09, 4:12 pm
I think the OP's BRG request has already been approved.
OP, I have always booked the SPG rate that has the same T&C as the third-party rate. Even when the rate has been non-refundable, my card wasnt charged (and it was charged the adjusted rate) until the time I checked out, so you may not lose any money on the conversion.